Master’s in Continuing Education in Contemporary Humanities: Rethinking Humanism

Facing the Challenges of the 21st Century with a Strong Humanistic, Ethical, and Reflective Foundation

The Master’s in Contemporary Humanities: Rethinking Humanism de la Universidad Nebrija, at Nebrija University, in collaboration with the Colegio Libre de Eméritos, is an academic program designed to deepen the study of the humanities from a modern perspective, integrating the challenges and opportunities of today's world. This innovative master’s program seeks to revitalize classical humanism, adapting it to the needs and contexts of the 21st century, while fostering critical reflection on culture, society, technology, and ethics in an increasingly globalized landscape.

In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, shifting social dynamics, and global challenges, the humanities play a crucial role in understanding and making sense of contemporary complexities. This unique program offers an interdisciplinary education, blending philosophy, literature, history, art, ethics, and cultural studies, to prepare professionals capable of critically analyzing reality and developing innovative solutions from a humanistic perspective.

The Master’s program focuses on reinterpreting humanism, meaning reviving the values and principles of traditional humanistic thought and applying them to current issues such as digitalization, cultural diversity, sustainability, and social justice. With a theoretical and practical approach, students will acquire the tools necessary to tackle contemporary challenges with ethical awareness and critical insight.

Curriculum

Continuing Education
Students must complete 60 credits

Module 1
Culture, Enlightenment, Humanism

Coordinator: Fernando Savater

What does it mean to be human? Is it merely a biological or zoological classification? While this perspective serves a basic descriptive purpose, humanity is not solely a matter of classification—it is also a value-driven construct. Our humanity carries an inalienable moral dimension; unlike animals, we do not inherit it automatically through our genes. Instead, we actively shape it through freedom and personal agency. A tiger or an eagle cannot be "inhuman," but a human being can—paradoxically, inhumanity is one of the possibilities of human will. This section of the master's program explores the construction of humanity in its many facets, examining how human identity is culturally invented. Ultimately, students will delve into the essential qualities that define the irreducibly human.

Seminars:

• 1. Humanism and Antihumanism. Professor: José Luis Pardo
• 2. Law and the Two Cultures. Professor: Manuel Atienza
• 3. Multiculturalism. Professor: Ramón Rodríguez
• 4. Deconstruction and Social Constructivism. Professor: María José Callejo
• 5. The Unrepeatable Human. Professor: Fernando Savater

Module 2
Humanism, Rights, and the Social Contract

Coordinator: Félix Ovejero

Human rights, inseparable from the concept of citizenship, represent one of the greatest intellectual achievements of our culture. Since their formulation, they have continuously expanded—both in scope (more rights) and in depth (greater expectations for their application). However, this evolution has also led to trivialization, with any demand, whether justified or not, often framed as a human right (e.g., the right to happiness). Naturally, tensions and contradictions have emerged: some rights conflict with others (equality vs. difference); certain groups find themselves at odds (LGBT, etc.); rights are increasingly applied to non-human entities (animals, nature, nations, robots, etc.); some rights collapse under competing claims (freedom of opinion vs. respect for beliefs and emotions). For many, this signifies the obsolescence of Enlightenment ideals, those of rationalism and emancipation. If taken to the extreme, human rights themselves might undermine humanism, one of their earliest sources of inspiration.

Seminars:

• 1. Citizenship, Identity, and New Rights. Professors: Pablo de Lora and Josu de Miguel
• 2. The Humanist Legacy: Moral Concepts and Civic Virtues. Professor: Manuel Toscano
• 3. Feminisms and Gender. Professor: Amelia Valcárcel
• 4. Liberalism, Democracy, and Socialism. Professors: Félix Ovejero and Juan Antonio Cordero
• 5. Political Correctness and Cancellation. Professor: Darío Villanueva

Module 3
The Path to the Human Condition: Humanism, Knowledge, Science, and Technology

Coordinatorss: Camilo José Cela Conde and Fernando Broncano

This module examines humanity as the intersection of natural selection and cultural evolution, exploring how the body and mind develop in response to adaptive challenges through both biological and cultural advancements, with scientific and technological progress playing a key role.

Reflections on humanism in this section emphasize the need to understand the nature and limits of human capacities, raising questions about intellectual, physical, and technological evolution and the implications of scientific discovery for human identity.

Seminarios:

• 1. The Frontiers of Human Knowledge. Philosophical Experience and Scientific Challenges Regarding the Limits of Knowledge. Professor: Manuel Arias Maldonado
• 2. The Human Being as an Organism. Evolution through Biological and Cultural Adaptation. Professor: Camilo José Cela Conde
• 3. The Scope of Bodily Capabilities. From Sex to Sport. Professor: Javier Moscoso Sarabia
• 4. Uses and Abuses of Human Nature. Science, Technology, and Ideology. Professor: Fernando Broncano Rodríguez
• 5. Can We Transcend Our Bodily Limits? Posthumanism and Transhumanism. Professor: Antonio Diéguez Lucena

Module 4
The Human in Art

Coordinator: Andreu Jaume

This module explores the representation of the human experience in art, literature, and thought. Through the analysis of various works and authors, students will examine key themes such as intimacy and identity, the construction of public and private memory, the relationship between nature and the polis, and the critical power of language in relation to authority. The module also addresses the evolution of aesthetic judgment and its significance in shaping society.

Seminars:

• The Configuration of the Everyday. Public Sphere, Private Sphere, Intimate Sphere. Professor: Anna Caballé
• Emotional Complicity and Social Cohesion. Professor: Paula Kuffer
• The Power of Words and the Word of Power. Professor: Aída Míguez
• Creative Arts and Politics: Dangerous Liaisons. Professor: Andreu Jaume
• Recovering Aesthetic Judgment. Art, Criticism, and the Public. Professor: Andreu Jaume

Professors

Darío Villanueva Director del Máster Director of the Master Presidente del Patronato de la Universidad Nebrija, exdirector de la Real Academia Española. Fernando Broncano Profesor Professor Doctor en Ciencias Económicas por la Universidad de Barcelona. Actualmente es Profesor de Metodología de las Ciencias Sociales y Filosofía Política en la Universidad de Barcelona. Ha realizado largas estancias de investigación en las Universidades e Chicago y Madison. Camilo José Cela Conde Profesor Professor Catedrático de Filosofía del Derecho, Moral y Política. Profesor emérito de la Universidad de las Islas Baleares (UIB). Ha sido profesor de Antropología en la UIB hasta 2016 y profesor investigador en el Departamento de Ecología y Biología Evolutiva de la Universidad de California (Irvine) hasta 2018. En la actualidad ocupa el cargo de Director de Investigación de la Fundación Gabarrón. Andreu Jaume Profesor Professor Editor, traductor, profesor, poeta y ensayista. Como docente, imparte cursos de literatura comparada en el Institut d’Humanitats de Barcelona, así como en otras instituciones. Félix Ovejero Profesor Professor Doctor en Ciencias Económicas por la Universidad de Barcelona (UB), en la que es profesor titular de Economía, Ética y Ciencias Sociales desde 1987. También ha sido profesor visitante en la Universidad Pompeu Fabra (1994, 1995), en el Centro de Ética, Racionalidad y Sociedad de la Universidad de Chicago (1991) y en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison (1999). Fernando Savater Profesor Professor Estudió Filosofía en la Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Trabajó como profesor ayudante en las facultades de Ciencias Políticas y de Filosofía de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, de donde fue apartado de la docencia en 1971 por razones políticas. Fue profesor de Ética y Sociología de la UNED y en la Universidad del País Vasco durante más de una década. Catedrático de Filosofía en la Universidad Complutense de Madrid durante diez años más hasta su jubilación en octubre de 2008.

More Academic Information

• Quality
• Methodology
• Calendar

Institutional Degree:Master’s in Continuing Education in Contemporary Humanities: Rethinking Humanism

Quality of the Degree

Internal Quality Assurance System System managers Incidents, Suggestions and Complaints Job placement report and assessment of training received

Student Profile

This Master’s program is designed for graduates in humanities, social sciences, philosophy, literature, history, art, and related disciplines, as well as professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of the humanities and their application in today’s world. It is also ideal for those pursuing careers in education, culture, communication, or social management, providing them with a strong intellectual foundation and critical tools to navigate contemporary challenges.

Academic Regulations

General student’s regulations. Credit transfer and recognition. Regulation of student participation. Common procedures for carrying out the Final Research Project

Total Credits

60 credits.
Minimum of 12 ECTS credits and maximum of 60 ECTS credits per enrollment and academic period.

Center responsible:School of Language and Education

Type of Education: Hybrid

Languages: Spanish

Academic year in which it was implemented: 2025-26

Duration: 1 year. From October to June

University Services: [+info]

Methodology

Hybrid modality.

Awards to Global Campus Nebrija

Best University in Online Learning - Ranking QS Stars Magisterio Award - Hybrid Presentiality educational model Blackboard Catalyst Award in the category of "leading change" Blackboard Catalyst Award - for the Hybrid Presentiality educational model Good Methodology Practice according to Cátedra UNESCO Success Story from Blackboard Education Excellence Awards as Best Online University – Mundo Ciudad Foundation 6th Best Blog on eLearning for España and LATAM

Calendar and Schedules

---

Academic calendar

Employability

Career Opportunities

The Master’s in Contemporary Humanities: Rethinking Humanism at Nebrija University is designed to equip graduates with a wide range of career opportunities across multiple sectors. While the humanities have traditionally been linked to academic careers, this program expands employability prospects by integrating humanistic knowledge with modern professional demands. Below are some of the key fields where graduates can apply their expertise:

• Education and Training:
  • Teaching in secondary schools, high schools, and universities.
  • Designing educational programs and teaching materials.
  • Training in critical thinking, ethics, and communication.
• Culture and Cultural Management:
  • Managing cultural institutions (museums, libraries, archives).
  • Organizing cultural events and exhibitions.
  • Consulting on cultural heritage and historical memory projects.
• Communication and Media:
  • Writing and editing for media outlets
  • Producing cultural and informational content
  • Working in corporate communication and social responsibility.
• Research and Academia:
  • Conducting humanities, social sciences, and cultural studies research.
  • Developing interdisciplinary projects.
  • Publishing specialized articles and books.
• Public Sector and International Organizations:
  • Advising on cultural and educational policies.
  • Working with international organizations in culture, education, and human rights.
  • Leading development cooperation and social projects.
• Private Companies:
  • Consulting in business ethics and corporate social responsibility.
  • Managing cultural diversity in the workplace.
  • Developing internal and external communication strategies.
• Digital Humanities:
  • Managing digital projects related to culture and heritage.
  • Analyzing cultural data and trends.
  • Creating digital content with a humanistic focus.

Career Opportunities

• Cultural project coordinators in public and private institutions.
• Editors and writers in media outlets and publishing houses.
• Ethics and sustainability consultants for companies.
• Researchers in educational centers and universities.
• Digital content managers on cultural and educational platforms.

Your Master’s in Contemporary Humanities: Rethinking Humanism